Former All-Star & Current Jackson State Head Coach Mo Williams Talks HBCU Showcase & Opportunities For Overlooked Players

After the inaugural HBCU Showcase that occurred at Las Vegas Summer League, Mo Williams talked to The Call-Up about his involvement in the event and the importance of this opportunity to the players

Photo credit to NBAE via Getty Images

Note: The following interview occurred on July 11th at Las Vegas Summer League following a series of HBCU Showcase scrimmages that occurred at the Thomas & Mack arena. 14-year NBA veteran Mo Williams served as one of the head coaches of the teams that participated in said scrimmages. Currently, Mo Williams serves as the head coach of the Jackson State men’s basketball team, an HBCU program that competes in the SWAC. To learn more about the event and see the players & coaches that participated, go here.

Dakota Schmidt: What led you to being part of the first ever NBAxHBCU showcase?

Mo Williams: A phone call from these guys. The NBA office wanted to do something to this caliber and they ended up reaching out to me. This is something that I really wanted to be a part of and I really dove into it. Now I think that it was a success as my guys really enjoyed the experience and we enjoyed it as coaches. I’m looking forward to this event each and every year. 

DS: As a former NBA player that has now been a coach of two different HBCU’s, what do you feel like the average fan should know about the quality of play in HBCU’s. 

MW: There’s a lot of talent in the world and at every level, especially in Division I basketball. We just wanted to make sure that these guys get their just due of being noticed and get eyes on them. There are people that wouldn’t know who they were but now really like these kids so that opportunity was all you need.  We’re just trying to craft a space for these kids to be looked at and I’m glad the NBA chose me to be one of the people to open up the door for these guys because there’s nobody that has done it before me. To me, to be a part of this meant a lot because the NBA is my fraternity and to be in the HBCU world and have my new family partner with my old family was amazing. 

DS: You talk about opportunity and the lone HBCU player that’s in the NBA. Robert Covington, went through that G League grind, got called up and years later he’s a great NBA veteran. Do you feel like these scrimmages are going to lead to these guys getting an opportunity with G League or high level international league?

MW: There’s money everywhere and teams all over the world outside of the NBA. Yes, there are 1 or 2 guys here that could have an opportunity to play at this level. Outside of that, it’s more important to give these guys a shot at making money to play pro ball and be able to take care of their families. Having them know that they can do that anywhere. Just using this as a platform to get them noticed in all those types of aspects and have them understand the NBA is not the end all be all. Just helping them understand how important it is to get a job, how hard it is to get a job, and understand what it takes to get there. 

DS: I definitely agree with you on that. Like, I feel in sports no matter if it’s coaches, players, or executives that there are more qualified people than there are opportunities available. 

MW: It is. The thing is that there’s only so many players that can get jobs in each and every year. So what are the things that you’re doing to separate yourself? A lot of things that go into that include your character, representation, what school you went to. All of those things may go against you. That’s why the HBCU Showcase is so important because it brings eyes to these guys to help them get their opportunity.

DS: Basically these HBCU players, whose talents were hidden during their time in school by the NBA world, are being brought to the biggest basketball gathering that there is.

MW: 100%. Instead of getting the scouts and NBA executives to come to us, we come to them. All they have to do is come 2-3 hours earlier than on a normal day when the games start to watch these guys. Now, you get your eyes on these players and you may like some and you may not. At least those folks had a chance to watch these guys in person.